Dispenser for rolls of flexible sheet material having structurally rigid internal supporting means

ABSTRACT

A device for dispensing a roll of flexible sheet material, which roll has structurally rigid internal supporting means extending axially outwardly beyond the ends of the roll, comprising; a framework including a pair of substantially horizontally opposed supporting members for rotatably engaging the ends of the supporting means, the supporting members being disengageable from the ends of the supporting means upon movement of the roll and supporting means axially of the roll, and means associated with the framework for preventing axial movement of the roll and supporting means until a predetermined amount of flexible sheet material has been removed from the roll so that when said predetermined amount of material has been removed from the roll, the remaining portion of the roll and supporting means may be moved axially of the roll until the supporting members disengage the ends of the supporting means, whereupon the remaining portion of the roll and supporting means gravitate from between the supporting members.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Paul W. Jespersen Westport, Conn.

[21 Appl. No. 704,320

[22] Filed Feb. 9, 1968 [45] Patented Mar. 30, 1971 [73] Assignee Georgia-Pacific Corporation Portland, Oreg.

[54] DISPENSER FOR ROLLS OF FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL HAVING STRUCTURALLY RIGID INTERNAL SUPPORTING MEANS 17 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs. I

[52] US. Cl 242/5511, 242/5553, 312/39 [51] Int. Cl ..A47 k 10/38, B65h 19/04 [50] Field ofSearch 242/553, 55.53, 55.2, 55.55, 55.42; 12/39, 40, 41

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,767,930 10/1956 McCants 242/553 3,069,214 12/1962 Layton 312/39 3,073,541 l/I963 Layton et a1 242/5553 3,382,021 5/1968 DeWoskin... 242/55.3X 3,438,589 4/1969 Jespersen 242/552 Primary Examiner-George F. Mautz Attorney-Birch, Swindler, McKie & Beckett ing the ends of the supporting means, the supporting members being disengageable from the ends of the supporting means upon movement of the roll and supporting means axially of the roll, and means associated with the framework for preventing axial movement of the roll and supporting means until a predetermined amount of flexible sheet material has been removed from the roll so that when said predetermined amount of material has been removed from the roll, the remaining portion of the roll and supporting means may be moved axially of the roll until the supporting members disengage the ends of the supporting means, whereupon the remaining portion of the roll and supporting means gravitate from between the supporting members.

Patnted. March 30, 1971 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patente d Ma.rch,30, 1971 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 F/GIZ Patented, March 30,1971 3,572,600

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 DISPENSER F OR ROLLS OF FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERHAL HAVING STRUCTURALLY RIGID INTERNAL SUPPORTING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION washrooms and includes means that permit such roll and supporting means to gravitate away fromadispensing position automatically after a predetermined amount of the flexible sheet material comprising the roll has been consumed.

2. Description of the Prior Art Dispensers for flexible sheet material rolls having. structurally rigid internal supporting means, such as conventional cardboard cores, are known in which the rolls gravitate from a dispensing position automatically after the sheet material comprising the rolls has been substantially consumed. Exemplary of such dispensers'are the devices shown in Britt et al.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,299,301 and Perrin US. Pat. No. 3,089,659.

As indicated by the Britt et al. and Perrin patents, such dispensers characteristically have comprised one of two struc tural types. One type is characterized by the device shown in the Britt et al. patent, comprisinga mechanical linkage system which positions and holds a' roll of toilet paper having a conventional cardboard core, in a dispensing position until the paper has been substantially consumed, and thereafter discharges the remaining portion of the roll and core into a compartment for subsequent withdrawal by a custodian.

The other type is characterized 'by the device shown in the Perrin patent, comprising a pair of stubshafts which rotatably engage the ends of a roll of paper toweling wound on a conventional cardboard core. One of the shafts has a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the core, and therefore engages the paper surrounding the core instead of the core itself. To permit the enlarged shaft to rotatably engage one end of the roll, part of the paper comprising that end and the adjacent portion of the core are cut away to form a shaft-receiving recess. After the paper defining the shaft receiving recess has been consumed, the shaft disengages the roll permitting the remaining portion thereof and core to fall from between the shafts.

While devices of the types characterized by the Britt et al. and Perrin dispensers offer solutions to the general problem to which the present invention is directedproviding a dispenser for a flexible sheet material roll having a structurally rigid internal supporting means, from which such roll and supporting means will gravitate automatically after a predetermined amount of the sheet material has been consumed-neither type of device provides an optimum solution to that problem. For example, the mechanical linkage system taught by Brittet al. and similar mechanisms are relatively complex, comprising several moving elements. Such mechanisms are not only expensive to manufacture because many of the elements require machine finishing, but also are susceptible to frequent breakdowns as a result of the abuse which toilet paper dispensers invariably receive in public washrooms.

Conversely, while the dispenser taught by Perrin has few moving parts, the flexible sheet material rolls used in this device must be specially machined to provide'the shaft-receiving recess in one end thereof which is engaged by the enlarged stubshaft. Furthermore, when a roll is supported in the dispensing position, the end of the roll which is engaged by the enlarged shaft is supported only by the engagement of the shaft with the flexible sheet material comprising the roll, as opposed to engagement with the core. Consequently, as the material is progressively removed from the roll, the support provided by the remaining material becomes weak and unsteady. Frequently, before the material has been exhausted from about the enlarged shaft, the portion of the roll surrounding the shaft will collapse, causing the roll to jam in the dispensing position.

SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTlON The device of the present invention offers an optimum solution to the problem of providing a dispenser for flexible sheet material rolls having structurally rigid internal supporting means, such as rolls of toilet paper or paper toweling, from which a roll automatically gravitates from a dispensing position after a predetermined amount of the material comprising the roll has been consumed.

Basically, the dispenser of the invention comprises a device for rotatably supporting, in a dispensing position, a roll of flexible sheet material having a structurally rigid supporting means positioned internally thereof which extends axially outwardly beyond the ends of the roll, wherein the device comprises; a framework including a pair of substantially horizontally opposed supporting members for rotatably engaging the ends of the supporting means to position the roll for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis between said members, said supporting members being disengageable from said ends of the supporting'meansupon movement of the roll and supporting means axially of the roll;and means associated with the framework for preventing axial movement of the roll and supporting means until a predetermined amount of the flexible sheet material has been removed from the roll so that when said predetermined amount of material has been removed from the roll, the remaining portion of the roll and supporting means may be moved axially of the roll until the supporting members disengage the ends of the supporting means, whereupon said remaining portion of the roll and supporting means gravitate from between the supporting members.

Preferably, means are provided in association with the framework for urging the roll and supporting means axially of the roll so that when the desired predetermined amount of flexible sheet material has been removed from the roll, the remaining portion of the roll and supporting means will be moved axially-of the roll automatically and the ends of the supporting means thereby automatically disengaged from the supporting members.

Conveniently, the structurally rigid internal supporting means for each of the rolls adapted to be dispensed from the device of the invention comprises a cardboard core onto which the flexible sheet material is wound, with the ends of the core being conterminouswith the ends of the roll and a pair of trunnions fixedly inserted into the ends of the core which extend axially outwardly beyond the ends of the roll. Such a roll, including the structurally rigid internal supporting means therefor, is economical to manufacture and is easily packaged, as more fully described in my aforementioned copending application.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for dispensing a roll of flexible sheet material having astructurally rigid internal supporting means, from which such roll and supporting means may be removed from a dispensing position by simply moving the roll and supporting means axially of the roll after a predetermined amount of the flexible sheet material has been consumed.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a device for dispensing a roll of flexible sheet material having a structurally rigid internal supporting means, from which such roll and supporting means gravitate from a dispensing position automatically after a predetermined amount of the flexible sheet material has been consumed.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device for dispensing rolls of flexible sheet material which embodies a rugged construction having few moving parts and which is ideally suited for commercial washroom installations.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a dispenser for a roll of toilet paper having a structurally rigid internal supporting means, from which the roll and supporting means are discharged automatically after substantially all of the paper has been exhausted.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a paper towel dispenser in which a first roll of paper toweling having a structurally rigid internal supporting means automatically gravitates from a first dispensing position to a second dispensing position after a predetermined amount of the toweling has been consumed therefrom, permitting a second roll of toweling to be disposed in the first dispensing position and the toweling therefrom dispensed simultaneously with the toweling from the remaining portion of the first roll until all of the toweling from the first roll has been consumed.

These and additional objects of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description of two preferred embodiments thereof given in connection with the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partially in section, of a paper towel dispenser constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a toilet paper dispenser constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the manner in which the remaining portion of a toilet paper roll and the structurally rigid internal supporting means therefor gravitate from the dispenser shown in FIGS. 36.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprising a paper towel dispenser l0. Dispenser 10 is adapted to dispense paper toweling from a roll 12 which has a structurally rigid internal supporting means 14 comprising a unitary core 16 and a pair of trunnions l8 and 20 fixedly inserted into the ends of core 16.

Basically, dispenser 10 comprises, a framework 22 including a pair of supporting member 24 and 26 for rotatably engaging trunnions 18 and 20, respectively, means for urging roll 12 and supporting means 14 axially of the roll, such as camming surface 28 forming an integral part of supporting member 24, and means for preventing roll 12 and supporting means 14 from moving axially of the roll until a predetermined amount of the paper toweling has been consumed, such as vertically inclined, spaced flanges 30 and 32.

Framework 22 includes a lower portion 34 which defines a front compartment 36 and a rear compartment 38. Compartments 36 and 38 are separated by a plate 40 positioned internally of portion 34.

Disposed in front compartment 36 is a means 42 for dividing the paper toweling withdrawn from roll 12 into individual sheets, as by severing or perforating. Means 42 may comprise a pair of pinch rolls 44 and 46, a measuring roll 48 and a knife roll 50. As shown in FIG. 1, the web of paper toweling from roll 12 is threaded around pinch roll 44, between that roll and measuringroll 48, around the measuring roll, between the measuring roll and knife roll 50, around the knife roll, and between the knife roll and pinch roll 46. The web is then fed through an opening 52 in the base of portion 34 where it may be grasped and withdrawn from the dispenser by a user in the direction of arrow 54. The details of dividing means 42 form no part of the present invention.

Rear compartment 38 is designed to receive a portion of a roll of paper toweling when such portion and the structurally rigid internal supporting means therefor gravitate from between supporting members 24 and 26, as will be described in more detail hereinafter.

Framework 22 further includes an upper portion 58 comprising vertical supports 60 and 62 disposed at opposite ends of the framework. Support 60 extends substantially above the horizontal axis about which roll 12 is adapted to rotate when the roll is in a dispensing position between supporting members 24 and 26. Fixed to the upper end of support 60, as by a rivet 64, is the upper end of a spring arm 66. supporting member 24 is integrally formed at the lower end of arm 66.

As seen in FIG. 2, supporting member 24 comprises a substantially U-shaped bearing receptacle 68 having a pair of opposed sides which, at their bottoms, integrally join bottom camming surface 28. Camming surface 28 is inclined inwardly and downwardly toward supporting member 26 so that when a roll is disposed between the supporting members, the camming surface will engage the outer extremity of trunnion 18 and, as a result of the gravitational force acting on the roll and supporting means, will cammingly urge the roll and supporting means axially of the roll toward supporting member 26.

Support 62 extends upwardly to approximately the level of the rotational axis of roll 12 when the roll is in a dispensing position between supporting members 24 and 26. lntegrally affixed to support 62, are supporting member 26 and vertically inclined, spaced flanges 30 and 32. Supporting member 26 comprises a substantially U-shaped bearing receptacle 70 having a substantially horizontally oriented bottom bearing surface for receiving and rotatably engaging the outer extremity of trunnion 20.

As shown in FIG. 2, trunnions l8 and 20 each comprise, an annular inner portion 72 which extends axially outwardly beyond one end of the roll for engagement with one of the supporting members, an annular outer portion 74 which is fixedly secured to core 16, and an annular web 76 which joins portions 72 and 74 and defines therewith an annular recess 78.

When roll 12 is disposed in the dispensing position between supporting members 24 and 26, U-shaped bearing receptacle 70 will be axially aligned with the recess 78 of trunnion 20. Consequently, when the roll and supporting means are permitted to move axially of the roll toward supporting member 26, receptacle 70 will be received within that recess. If the roll and supporting means are moved toward supporting member 26 far enough, trunnion 18 will become disengaged from supporting member 24, whereupon the roll and supporting means will fall free of the supporting members and gravitate from the dispensing position therebetween.

To prevent the roll and supporting means from gravitating from between the supporting members until the desired amount of paper toweling has been consumed from the roll, flanges 30 and 32 engage the end of the roll adjacent supporting member 26 and prevent the roll and supporting means from moving axially far enough for trunnion 18 to become disengaged from supporting member 24 until the diameter of the roll is small enough to fit between the flanges, as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1. When the roll has diminished to this size, the roll and supporting means may be moved axially of the roll toward supporting member 26, between flanges 30 and 32, until trunnion 18 becomes disengaged from supporting member 24. At this time roll 12 will be of the size of the remaining roll portion shown in compartment 38, and will gravitate from the dispensing position between supporting members 24 and 26 to a second dispensing position in the rear compartment, as shown by arrow 80 in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As described above, camming surface 28 continuously urges roll 12 and supporting means 14 axially of the roll so that when the roll is small enough to slide between flanges 30 and 32, the roll and supporting means will be moved axially of the roll automatically, and trunnion 18 thereby automatically disengaged from supporting member 24. Alternatively, however, receptacle 68 may be constructed similarly to receptacle 70 having a substantially horizontally oriented bottom-bearing surface instead of the inwardly and downwardly inclined bottom-camming surface 28. This construction would require that the roll and supporting means he moved toward supporting member 26 by hand for disengaging trunnion 18 from supporting member 24 as opposed to the above-described automatic disengagement sequence produced by camming surface 26. Therefore, receptacle 68 preferably includes an inclined bottom-camming surface instead of a substantially horizontally oriented bottom-bearing surface, although both modes of construction are within the purview of the invention.

After roll 12 and supporting means 14 have gravitated into compartment 38, the web of paper toweling from the remaining portion of the roll will remain threaded through dividing means 42, as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1. Thereafter, a fresh roll 12 may be inserted between supporting members 24 and 26 and the web from that roll threaded through means 42 in juxtaposition with the web from the remaining roll portion. A double-ply web of toweling will then be fed from dispenser until all of the. paper comprising the remaining roll portion has been consumed. This insures that all of the paper toweling from each roll which is dispensed from dispenser 10 will be consumed before the structurally rigid internal supporting means for each roll is withdrawn from compartment 38 and discarded.

This mode of operation is particularly adapted for commercial washroom installations where economic considerations dictate that a custodian replenish each dispenser once a day or at some other regular interval. Thus, when the custodian services dispenser l0 and positions a fresh roll therein he need not discard the remaining roll portion left over from'the previous days use. Rather, the service interval for the dispenser is adjusted so that during the interval the paper from the remaining roll portion in compartment 38 is completely consumed, and the new roll, which was disposed in the first dispensing position between supporting members 24 and 26 at the beginning of the interval, thereafter gravitates into compartment 3% preparatory to the insertion of another new what the end of the interval. The automatic discharge feature of dispenser 10 thus provides an optimum compromise between (1) servicing the dispenser on an irregular basis whenever the paper toweling from a roll is exhausted, or (2) servicing the dispenser on a regular basis and discarding the unused portion of a roll remaining therein.

in addition to providing a means for preventing roll 12 and supporting means 14 from moving axially toward supporting member 26 until the desired predetermined amount of paper has been removed from the roll, flanges 30 and 32 act as a braking means to prevent uncontrolled spinning and consequent wastage of the roll while it is disposed in the first dispensing position. As shown in FIG. 2, axial movement is imparted to roll. 12 and supporting means 14 not only by camming surface 28, but also by spring arm 66, the lower end of which abuts the outer end of trunnion 18. The resultant axial movement of roll 12 and supporting means 14 toward supporting member 26 causes the end of the roll adjacent member 26 to engage flanges 30 and 32, as previously described. Such engagement produces a frictional braking force which resists rotation of roll 12 about the axis defined by the horizontally opposed supporting members 24 and 26.

Desirably, the braking force applied to'the roll by flanges 30 and 32 should be proportionally related to the rotational inertia of the roll. Such a proportional relationship is achieved as a result of the inclination of flanges 30 and 32.

Due to the upward and outward inclination of flanges 30 and 32 away from the periphery of roll 12, as the size of the roll diminishes, a progressively larger axial displacement of roll 12 and supporting means 14 toward member 26 is required to maintain the end of the roll in frictional engagement with the flanges. Thus, as the size of the roll diminishes, spring arm 66 and camming surface 28 must move roll 12 and supporting means 14 progressively further toward supporting member 26 to maintain the frictional engagement between the applied against the end of trunnion 18 by spring arm 66 and therefore the less braking force is applied to the roll by flanges 30 and 32.

The mass of the roll and consequently its rotational inertia are the greatest when the roll is of maximum size. As the size of the roll diminishes its mass and rotational inertia also diminish, and therefore progressively less braking force is required to prevent uncontrolled spinning of the roll as its size diminishes. From the foregoing it will be apparent that due to the inclination of flanges 30 and 32, the braking force applied to the roll diminishes as the size of the roll diminishes so that the braking force decreases as the rotational inertia of the roll decreases.

The material and configuration of spring arm 66 are selected so that the lower end of the arm will not move toward supporting member 26 far enough to interfere with the automatic gravitation of the roll and supporting means from between supporting member 24 and 26. Such a limitation on the movement of spring arm 66 is necessary to insure that trunnion 18 will become disengaged from supporting member 24 in the desired manner when roll 12 slides between flanges 30 and 32. The axial movement imparted to the roll and supporting means which causes trunnion 18 to become disengaged from supporting member 24 is principally applied by the camming action of surface 28.

A suitable cover (not shown) may be provided for enclosing framework 22 and the rolls of paper toweling disposed therein to provide the dispenser with a streamlined appearance and to prevent tampering with the toweling and internal dispenser structure.

A second embodiment of the dispenser of the invention is shown in FIGS. 3-7 comprising a toilet paper dispenser 90. Dispenser is adapted to dispense rolls of toilet paper 92 each having a structurally rigid internal supporting means 94 comprising a unitary core 96 and a pair of trunnions96 and 100. Core 96 and trunnions 98 and 100 of supporting means 94 are arranged similarly to the elements comprising supporting means 14. Thus, the ends of core 96 are coterrninous with the ends of roll 92 and trunnions 98 and 100 are fixedly inserted into the ends of the core. Also, similarly to trunnions 18 and 20, trunnions 98 and 100 include annular inner portions 102 which extend axially outwardly beyond the ends of roll 92, annular outer portions 104 which are fixedly secured to core 96, and annular webs 106 which join portions 102 and 104 and define therewith annular recesses 108.

Basically, dispenser 90 comprises, a framework 110 including a pair of supporting members 128 and 132 for rotatably engaging trunnions 98 and 100, respectively, a means for urging roll 92 and structurally rigid internal supporting means 94 axially of the roll toward supporting member 132, such as camming surface 134 forming an integral part of supporting member 128, and means for preventing axial movement of roll 92 and supporting means 94 toward supporting member 132 until substantially all of the toilet paper comprising roll 92 has been exhausted, such as flanges 142, 144 and 146.

Framework 110 includes a rear wall 112 having opposed forwardly extending flanges 114 and 116 at the sides thereof. Wall 112 has a plurality of mounting holes 118 formed therein to facilitate attachment of dispenser 90 to a mounting wall. A rib 120 is formed along the bottom of wall 112 to strengthen framework 110.

Afiixed to flanges 114 and 116 are sidewalls 122 and 124, respectively. lntegrally formed in sidewalls 122 and 124 are elongated guide channels 126 and 130, respectively. As best seen in FIG. 5, guide channel 126 has a widened open upper end, and communicates at its lower end with supporting member 128. Similarly, as best seen in FIG. 4, guide channel has a widened open upper end, and communicates at its lower end with supporting member 132.

Supporting member 123 of dispenser 90 is formed similarly to supporting member 24 of dispenser 111. Member 128 comprises a substantially U-shaped bearing receptacle which is defined by the lower end of guide channel126 and bottomcamming surface 134. Surface 134 is integrally affixed to the lower end of the guide channel and is inclined inwardly and downwardly toward supporting member 132 for urging roll 92 and supporting means 94 axially of the roll toward member 132. Alternatively, a substantially horizontally oriented bottom-bearing surface may be substituted for inclined bottomcarnming surface 134, if for some reason the automatic disengagement sequence produced by the latter is not desired.

Supporting member 132 comprises a substantially U-shaped bearing rib 136 which is integrally affixed to sidewall 124 by a pair of vertical support ribs 138. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the depth of rib 136 is slightly less than the width of the annular recess 166 of trunnion 100. As best seen in FIG. 4, a vertically elongated opening 140 is provided in guide channel 130 immediately above rib 136 which opening is of a slightly greater width than the outside diameter of the inner portion 192 of trunnion 100.

. As will be evident, the dispensing position for a roll 92 is between horizontally opposed supporting members 128 and 132 with the outer ends of trunnions 98 and 100 being rotatably supported by camming surface 134 and rib 136, respectively, and with the outer end of trunnion 100 positioned axially inwardly of the plane defined by opening 140. The roll and internal supporting means are urged axially of the roll toward supporting member 132, by the camming action of camming surface 134, in the same manner as a roll and the internal supporting means therefor are urged toward one of the supporting members of the previous embodiment by the action of a camming surface which forms an integral part of the other of the supporting members. When roll 92 and supporting means 94 move toward member 132 far enough, rib 136 is received within the annular recess 106 of trunnion 100 and the outer end of that trunnion moves through opening 140, as seen in FIG. 7. When this occurs, trunnion 98 becomes disengaged from member 128 and the roll and supporting means gravitate from the dispensing position.

To prevent roll 92 and supporting means 94 from moving axially toward supporting member 132 far enough for trunnion 98 to become disengaged from member 128 until substantially all of the toilet paper comprising the roll has been exhausted, tapered flanges 142 and 144 are formed along the opposite lower edges of guide channel 130 for engaging the end of the roll adjacent member 132. Also, flange 146, which is integrally attached to sidewall 124 below supporting member 132, prevents axial movement of the roll and supporting means until substantially all of the paper comprising the roll has been consumed. Moreover, flange 146 deters a user from forcibly removing a roll from the dispenser until substantially all of the paper has been removed therefrom.

When substantially all of the paper comprising a roll 92 has been removed from about the structurally rigid internal supporting means 94 therefor, the supporting means and any slight amount of paper remaining thereabout are of a diameter which is small enough to slide between flanges 142, 144 and 146. The remaining roll portion and supporting means are thereupon moved axially toward member 132 by the camming action of surface 134, as previously described, until trunnion 98 becomes disengaged from supporting member 128, and the remaining roll portion and supporting means automatically gravitate from between the supporting members, as shown by arrows 148 in FIG. 7.

Dispenser 10 also includes a braking means for minimizing uncontrolled spinning and consequent wastage of the toilet paper rolls dispensed therefrom. The braking means comprises a biasing spring 150 having its upper end affixed to guide channel 126, as by a sheet metal screw 152. The lower end of spring 150 frictionally engages the end of roll 92 which is adjacent supporting member 128 when the roll is disposed in the dispensing position.

Spring 150 not only functions as a braking means but also as a unidirectional locking means to prevent removal of a roll after it has been disposed in the dispensing position. Thus, when a roll is disposed in the dispensing position with the outer end of trunnion 98 rotatably supported by supporting member 128, the lower end of spring 150 will be positioned in guide channel 126 directly above such trunnion outer end to block upward movement thereof. A brad 154 is affixed to the intermediate portion of spring 150 and extends through an opening 156 in the side of guide channel 126 to keep the spring centered in the guide channel.

Dispenser also includes a case 158 comprising an uppea portion 160, a lower portion 162 and a top portion 164. Upper portion 160 and lower portion 162 are joined medially of the dispenser by an indented flanged seam 166. Lower portion 162 is open at the bottom to permit a roll 92 to extend therethrough for withdrawal of the toilet paper by a user. A substantially U-shaped brace 167 is affixed to the lower end of sidewalls 122 and 124 and extends forwardly from the sidewalls to the front of lower case portion 162 adjacent the opening at the bottom thereof to strengthen the case.

Case 160 is pivotally attached to sidewalls 122 and 124 by a pair of pivotal connections 168 and 169 located at the lower rear portion of lower case portion 162. This arrangement permits case 158 to be pivoted outwardly away from framework so that rolls 92 may be loaded into the dispenser, as hereinafter described.

Top portion 164 of the case is affixed to upper portion 160 thereof by a plurality of tabs 170. Attached to top portion 164 is a releasable locking means, such as lock 172 having a tongue 174, for releasably locking case 158 to framework 110.

Means are provided on the framework for releasably engaging tongue 174, such as flange 176 which is integrally affixed to rear wall 112 of the framework. Flange 176 has an opening 178 therein which is adapted to receive tongue 174. For commercial washroom installations lock 172 conveniently may be a key-operated device to prevent unauthorized tampering with the interior of dispenser 90.

As shown in FIGS. 3-5, dispenser 90 is designed to simultaneously accommodate a pair of rolls 92. One roll is disposed in the dispensing position between supporting members 128 and 132, and a second roll is held thereabove in a reserve position with the periphery of the second roll abutting the periphery of the first roll. To load the dispenser, case 158 is pivoted outwardly away from about framework 110, exposing the widened open upper ends of guide channels 126 and 130. A pair of rolls are then inserted into the dispenser between the sidewalls, with outer ends of trunnions 98 and 100 being received in guide channels 126 and 130, respectively.

As shown in FlGS. 3-5, the inner portions 102 of trunnions 98 and 100 are cylindrically shaped and are of different diameters. Also, guide channels 126 and are of different widths which correspond to the different diameters of the inner trunnion portions. This construction insures that the rolls will be loaded between the guide channels in the proper orientation, with the outer end of trunnions 98 being received in channel 126 and the outer end of trunnion 100 being received in channel 130. This orientation insures that the paper will be fed from the bottom of each roll when it is disposed in the dispensing position and that the paper on the upper reserve roll will not be unwound therefrom as that roll is rotated within the dispenser as a result of its frictional contact with the lower roll in the dispensing position.

When the rolls are inserted into the dispenser, the first roll falls downwardly between the guide channels, with trunnion 98 camming the lower end of spring outwardly to permit the trunnion to move th'erepast, until the trunnions for that roll are received by the supporting members. The second roll falls downwardly between the guide channels until the periphery thereof abuts the periphery of the first roll. Case 158 is then pivoted upwardly about framework 110 and releasably locked thereto by lock 172.

Toilet paper may then be removed from the lower roll until the paper comprising that roll is substantially exhausted. whereupon the slight amount of paper remaining about the structurally rigid internal supporting means for that roll and the supporting means are moved axially of the roll toward supof the roll by hand for disengaging trunnion 98 from support- 1 ing member 128.

After the exhausted roll has gravitated from the dispensing position, the upper reserve roll falls downwardly between guide channels 126 and 130 until the trunnions for that roll engage the supporting members, whereupon the reserve roll is disposed in the dispensing position. This arrangement facilitates servicing of the dispenser at regular intervals since a reserve roll immediately and automatically replenishes the roll which is initially disposed in the dispensing position whenever the latter roll becomes exhausted.

As will be evident paper towel dispenser 10 and toilet paper dispenser 90, each of which embodies the salient principles of the present invention, are ideally suited for commercial washroom installations. Each dispenser is ruggedly constructed having few moving parts and is particularly designed to be serviced at regular intervals. Thus, the dispensers are economical to maintain and operate.

While the foregoing constitutes a detailed description of two preferred embodiments of the invention, it is recognized that various modifications thereof will occur to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited solely by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

1 claim:

1. A dispenser adapted to rotatably support, in a dispensing position, a roll of flexible sheet material having a structurally rigid supporting means positioned internally thereof which extends axially outwardly beyond the ends of said roll, said dispenser comprising:

a framework including a pair of substantially horizontally opposed supporting members adapted to rotatably engage the ends of said supporting means to position the roll for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis between said members, said supporting members being adapted to be disengaged from said ends of the supporting means upon movement of the roll and supporting means axially of the roll; and

axial movement-preventing means associated with the framework and separate from said supporting members adapted to prevent axial movement of the roll and supporting means, said preventing means defining an opening permitting axial movement of the roll and supporting means when a predetermined amount of flexible sheet material has been removed from the roll so that when said predetermined amount of material has been removed from the roll, the remaining portion of the roll and supporting means may be moved axially of the roll until the supporting members disengage the ends of the supporting means, whereupon the remaining portion of the roll and supporting means gravitate from between the supporting members.

2. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said supporting members includes a substantially horizontally oriented bearing surface adapted to engage one of said ends of 5 a framework including a pair of substantially horizontally opposed supporting members adapted to rotatably engage the ends of said supporting means to position the roll for rotation-about a substantially horizontal axis between said members, said supporting members being adapted to be disengaged from said ends of the supporting means upon movement of the roll and supporting means axially of the roll;

urging means associated with said framework adapted to urge the roll and supporting means axially of the roll; and

v axial movement-preventing means associated with said framework adapted to prevent axial movement of the roll and supporting means, said preventing means defining an opening permitting axial movement of the roll and supporting means when a predetermined amount of flexible sheet material has been removed from the roll so that when said predetermined amount of material has been removed from the roll, said urging means will move the remaining portion of the roll and supporting means axially of the roll until one end of supporting means becomes disengaged from the associated supporting member and said remaining portion of the roll and supporting means will gravitate from between the supporting members.

5. A device as recited in claim 4, wherein said urging means comprises a camming surface forming an integral part of one of said supporting members, said camming surface being adapted to be engaged by said one end of the supporting means and being inclined downwardly and inwardly toward the other of said supporting members.

6. A device as recited in claim 4, wherein one of said sup porting members includes a substantially horizontally oriented bearing surface adapted to be engaged by the other end of said supporting means.

7. A device as recited in claim 4, wherein said framework further includes a pair of opposed, elongated guide channels, one end of each of said channels being open and adapted to receive one end of said supporting means therein and the other end of each of said channels communicating with one of said supporting members, whereby said channels guide the ends of the supporting means from said open ends thereof to said supporting members with the roll disposed therebetween.

8. A device as recited in claim 7, wherein said guide channels are long enough to accommodate a plurality of rolls therebetween with one roll at a time being guided into the dispensing position between said supporting members.

9. A device as recited in claim 7, adapted to rotatably support, in a dispensing position, a roll of flexible sheet material having a structurally rigid supporting means positioned internally thereof which extends axially outwardly beyond the ends of said roll and the ends of which are cylindrically shaped and of different diameters, wherein said guide channels are of different widths corresponding to the different diameters of the ends of the supporting means, whereby a roll may be disposed between the guide channels only when each end of the supporting means is received by the corresponding guide channel.

10. A device as recited in claim 4, further comprising a housing for enclosing said framework, said housing having an opening in the lower portion thereof through which the flexible sheet material may be withdrawn from the device by a user.

Ill. A device as recited in claim 10, wherein said housing is pivotally connected to said framework so that the housing may be pivoted outwardly from about the framework to permit a roll to be disposed between said supporting members, and then pivoted inwardly about said framework to cover the roll after it has been so disposed.

12. A device as recited in claim ll, further comprising means for releasably locking said housing to said framework to prevent the housing from being pivoted outwardly from thereabout.

13. A device as recited in claim t, further comprising a braking means attached to said framework adapted to engage one end of there" while it is positioned between the supporting members to prevent uncontrolled spinning of the roll and consequent wastage of the flexible sheet material.

14. A device as recited in claim 13, wherein said braking means comprises frictional force-applying means adapted to apply to one end of the rolls a frictional fonce which is proportionally related to the rotational inertia of the roll.

15. A device as recited in claim 4, further comprising a unidirectional locking means attached to said framework which permits a roll to be disposed between said supporting members but which prevents a roll from being removed from between said supporting members after it is disposed therebetween.

16. A device as recited in claim 4, wherein said framework further includes means defining a compartment positioned 

1. A dispenser adapted to rotatably support, in a dispensing position, a roll of flexible sheet material having a structurally rigid supporting means positioned internally thereof which extends axially outwardly beyond the ends of said roll, said dispenser comprising: a framework including a pair of substantially horizontally opposed supporting members adapted to rotatably engage the ends of said supporting means to position the roll for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis between said members, said supporting members being adapted to be disengaged from said ends of the supporting means upon movement of the roll and supporting means axially of the roll; and axial movement-preventing means associated with the framework and separate from said supporting members adapted to prevent axial movement of the roll and supporting means, said preventing means defining an opening permitting axial movement of the roll and supporting means when a predetermined amount of flexible sheet material has been removed from the roll so that when said predetermined amount of material has been removed from the roll, the remaining portion of the roll and supporting means may be moved axially of the roll until the supporting members disengage the ends of the supporting means, whereupon the remaining portion of the roll and supporting means gravitate from between the supporting members.
 2. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said supporting members includes a substantially horizontally oriented bearing surface adapted to engage one of said ends of the supporting means.
 3. A device as recited in claim 2, wherein both of said supporting members include a substantially horizontally oriented bearing surface adapted to engage both of said ends of the supporting means.
 4. A dispenser adapted to rotatably support, in a dispensing position, a roll of flexible sheet material having a structurally rigid supporting means positioned internally thereof which extends axially outwardly beyond ends of said roll, said dispenser comprising: a framework including a pair of substantially horizontally opposed supporting members adapted to rotatably engage the ends of said supporting means to position the roll for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis between said members, said supporting members being adapted to be disengaged from said ends of the supporting means upon movement of the roll and supporting means axially of the roll; urging means associated with said framework adapted to urge the roll and supporting means axially of the roll; and axial movement-preventing means associated with said framework adapted to prevent axial movement of the roll and supporting means, said preventing means defining an opening permitting axial movement of the roll and supporting means when a predetermined amount of flexible sheet material has been removed from the roll so that when said predetermined amount of material has been removed from the roll, said urging means will move the remaining portion of the roll and supporting means axially of the roll until one end of supporting means becomes disengaged from the associated supporting member and said remaining portion of the roll and supporting means will gravitate from between the supporting members.
 5. A device as recited in claim 4, wherein said urging means comprises a camming surface forming an integral part of one of said supporting members, said camming surface being adapted to be engaged by said one end of the supporting means and being inclined downwardly and inwardly toward the other of said supporting members.
 6. A device as recited in claim 4, wherein one of said supporting members includes a substantially horizontally oriented bearing surface adapted to be engaged by the other end of said supporting means.
 7. A device as recited in claim 4, wherein said framework further includes a pair of opposed, elongated guide channels, one end of each of said channels being open and adapted to receive one end of said supporting means therein and the other end of each of said channels communicating with one of said supporting members, whereby said channels guide the ends of the supporting means from said open ends thereof to said supporting members with the roll disposed therebetween.
 8. A device as recited in claim 7, wherein said guide channels are long enough to accommodate a plurality of rolls therebetween with one roll at a time being guided into the dispensing position between said supporting members.
 9. A device as recited in claim 7, adapted to rotatably support, in a dispensing position, a roll of flexible sheet material having a structurally rigid supporting means positioned internally thereof which extends axially outwardly beyond the ends of said roll and the ends of which are cylindrically shaped and of different diameters, wherein said guide channels are of different widths corresponding to the different diameters of the ends of the supporting means, whereby a roll may be disposed between the guide channels only when each end of the supporting means is received by the corresponding guide channel.
 10. A device as recited in claim 4, further comprising a housing for enclosing said framework, said housing having an opening in the lower portion thereof through which the flexible sheet material may be withdrawn from the device by a user.
 11. A device as recited in claim 10, wherein said housing is pivotally connected to said framework so that the housing may be pivoted outwardly from about the framework to permit a roll to be disposed between said supporting members, and then pivoted inwardly about said framework to cover the roll after it has been so disposed.
 12. A device as recited in claim 11, further comprising means for releasably locking said housing to said framework to prevent the housing from being pivoted outwardly from thereabout.
 13. A device as recited in claim 4, further comprising a braking means attached to said framework adapted to engage one end of the roll while it is positioned between the supporting members to prevent uncontrolled spinning of the roll and consequent wastage of the flexible sheet material.
 14. A device as recited in claim 13, wherein said braking means comprises frictional force-applying means adapted to apply to one end of the rolls a frictional force which is proportionally related to the rotational inertia of the roll.
 15. A device as recited in claim 4, further comprising a unidirectional locking means attached to said framework which permits a roll to be disposed between said supporting members but which prevents a roll from being removed from between said supporting members after it is disposed therebetween.
 16. A device as recited in claim 4, wherein said framework further includes means defining a compartment positioned below said supporting members adapted to receive said remaining portion of the roll and supporting means when said remaining portion and supporting means gravitate from between the supporting members.
 17. A device as recited in claim 16, further comprising dividing means positioned below said supporting members adapted to divide the flexible sheet material into individual sheets, said dividing means also being adapted to simultaneously divide the flexible sheet Material from a roll positioned between the supporting members and the flexible sheet material from the remaining portion of a roll positioned in said compartment. 